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Mebane approves purchase of two parcels for future parks, using capital reserve funds
Summary
City officials approved two parkland purchases in April — a 50‑acre property and a 37‑acre parcel — using a capital reserve funded by a 2¢ tax-rate set‑aside; both purchases are pending due diligence, annexation or final approvals and will require additional funding to develop amenities.
Mebane city officials announced in their April update that the council approved two land purchases intended to expand the city’s parkland.
Richard, a city speaker at the update, said the first purchase is a 50‑acre property marketed as 7 Mile Farm on West 10 Road south of the I‑40/I‑85 interchange. The council approved the purchase 3–2 for $1,500,000, subject to due diligence, annexation and rezoning. The property is currently outside city limits and would need annexation and rezoning before development could proceed. Richard said the existing farm lease will remain in place to reduce short‑term upkeep costs.
Mayor Hooks described a second opportunity, a 37‑acre parcel at the intersection of North Carolina 119 and Mebane Rogers Road offered by Thorbrite LLC (represented in materials by Joe Aldore). City staff said the site connects to nearby city‑owned land and could expand to nearly 50 acres of park space. The council voted 3–1 to move forward with the $1,400,000 purchase, again pending due diligence and final approvals. Officials noted the parcel’s current zoning allows parks but that some organized athletic amenities would need additional approvals.
City staff and speakers emphasized both purchases were funded from a capital reserve created by a 2¢ portion of the tax rate set aside two years earlier. Richard said the set‑aside covers acquisition costs and “there’ll be no impact on our tax rate” for the purchases themselves, but he added that additional funds will be needed over time to plan and build park amenities and that development would not be immediate.
The approvals secure land the city says it needs to meet recreation goals in its parks and recreation master plan, but each site must clear standard procedural steps — due diligence reviews, annexation and rezoning where required — before construction or programming begins.
